Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraq's National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji on Fridaydenied reports that Baghdad pays transit fees to Iran for the passage of itsoil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the claims as"false and baseless."
Al-Araji noted that Iran had previously announced Iraq wasexempt from measures governing passage through the strategic waterway.
His remarks came after sources cited by Al Arabiya allegedthat US forces had blocked several vessels carrying Iraqi oil through theStrait of Hormuz over accusations that Baghdad was paying transit fees toTehran.
Meanwhile, an informed source told Shafaq News that aChinese oil tanker carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oilcompleted loading operations at Basra's ports on behalf of Iraq's StateOrganization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) and is expected to depart aftercompleting the necessary operational and technical procedures.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely closed by Iransince February 28 in response to the US-Israel war, disrupting regional energyflows. Iraq, which exports roughly 95% of its crude oil through the waterway,has been among the countries most affected by the disruption.
The United States later imposed a naval blockade in thestrait, sharply reducing commercial shipping traffic through one of the world'smost important energy corridors. US forces previously announced that, since thestart of the naval blockade in the Strait, they have redirected 129 commercialvessels, disabled six non-compliant ships, and allowed the passage of 36vessels carrying humanitarian assistance.
: Iraq's oil lifeline is blocked: Here is why the crisis runs deeper than Hormuz